Major refurbishment work, costing more than £500,000 and lasting a year, has transformed a community hospital.

The money has been spent to improve facilities at the 30-bed Wallingford Community Hospital in Reading Road.

Lesley Knight, primary care manager, said the quality of the overall care was now excellent - but added the hospital was "desperately" short of qualified and new nurses and catering staff.

"It's a national problem," she said. "It will be a shame if we can't find more nurses for our patients after spending so much on the refurbishment.

"The day hospital has been extended for rehabilitation therapy. We've got a new day room with furniture that can be adjusted to different heights.

"The carpets throughout have been replaced with lino, which is better for infection control.

"The hairdressing salon within the hospital has been extended and access to our beautiful gardens has been improved."

There are new podiatry facilities and new equipment for eyetests so patients will no longer have to travel to Reading.

A busy casualty department for minor injuries is open 24 hours a day, serving communities within an eight-mile radius of Wallingford.

The refurbishment is a complete turn-around for the hospital which, until November, 1999, was earmarked for closure as part of a shake-up of community healthcare across Oxfordshire. A campaign to keep it open won the day, and the renovation began in March, 2000.

Janet Kent, 58, a laundry assistant who has worked at the hospital for 24 years, said: "It's heaven not to have the workmen around any more, it was so difficult. But everyone now comments on how nice the place looks, so it was worth it."

The work was funded from a variety of sources, including the hospital's League of Friends, trust funds, and a sponsored sky-dive by Ms Knight over Weston-on-the- Green.

The hospital recently passed a cleanliness inspection by the Patient Environment Access Team with flying colours.

The League of Friends has been given a tour of the upgraded wards, and local people will be able to have a look around during the hospital's summer fete on June 2.

The Roke and Benson Brass Band is to play in one of the hospital courtyards from 2pm, and there will be a range of stalls and refreshments.